Sir Thomas Frankland, 5th Baronet

Who was Sir Thomas Frankland, 5th Baronet?

Admiral Sir Thomas Frankland, 5th Baronet was a British naval officer, MP and slave trader. He was the second son of Henry Frankland and Mary Cross. Frankland was born in the East Indies, his father being a member of the East India Company and briefly Governor of Bengal.

He entered the navy in 1731, serving in HMS York under Capt. Philip Vanbrugh, HMS Scarborough, and HMS Oxford before becoming a lieutenant in 1737. On 23 February 1738, he was sent to HMS Chatham, again under Capt. Vanbrugh, where he served for two years. He was briefly transferred to HMS Cumberland in March 1740 before promotion to captain on 15 July 1740 aboard HMS Rose.

He was promptly assigned to carry the newly appointed Governor of the Bahamas, John Tinker to the islands, and remained in the Bahamas until 1746, fighting Spanish privateers and taking a number of prizes. He then returned home and was given command of HMS Dragon and sent to the West Indies. On 31 July 1755, he was given command of the Leeward Islands as a Commodore, arriving aboard HMS Winchester in October.